Changes to Enhanced STAR program

Because of changes New York state recently made to the Enhanced STAR tax exemption, all residents ages 65 and older enrolled in Enhanced STAR now need to also be enrolled in the state’s Income Verification Program (IVP) to continue receiving their Enhanced STAR benefit.

For Herkimer Central School District residents, the deadline to enroll in IVP is March 1, 2019. For the 2019-20 school year, senior citizens age 65 and older with qualifying incomes of $86,300 or less are eligible for Enhanced STAR.

This change to the Enhanced STAR program affects senior citizens who have not already enrolled in IVP. For Herkimer residents to continue receiving their tax benefit, they will need to be enrolled in IVP. If a resident is already enrolled in IVP, no action is necessary.

Homeowners only have to enroll in IVP once. After that, New York state verifies income eligibility automatically. As long as homeowners remain income-eligible, they will continue to receive the benefit every year.